Sexual Behaviour

Question 1

What can pheromones do in pigs? E.g.

Answer 1

Boar odour and the odour of estrus sows can advance and synchronize puberty in gilts
Evokes the lordosis response during estrus
e.g. submaxillary salivary gland and preputial fluid secretions in boar (skatole)

Question 2

Purpose of fanning behaviour in bees

Answer 2

Fan pheromone (nasonov) to direct other bees home

Question 3

Primary and secondary means of mutual identification

Answer 3

primary = odour
secondary = visual

Question 4

E.g. of visual means of mutual identification

Answer 4

Suffix ewe (black face) will reject a lamb with a white face

Question 5

How do photoperiods affect reproductive behaviour (visual)

Answer 5

Relative length of the light period of each day helps determine the timing of breeding beh in some domestic animals (egg laying in hens, seasonal breeders)

Question 6

Two ways photoperiodism operates

Answer 6

Reproduction during the part of the year where day length is long (horse breeding starts in the spring-> summer, light is longer/stronger)
Reproduction during part of the year when day length is at a minimum (sheep and goats breed in the fall, photoperiod less than dark period)

Question 7

What is refractory period

Answer 7

When the photoperiod fails to provide adequate stimulation, a refractory period develops in which breeding performance is arrested

Question 8

Other visual stimuli for bulls and boars

Answer 8

Will mount dorsal surface with supports (‘dummy’)
Bulls are stimulated by seeing others mount

Question 9

Examples of how temperature affects reproductive behaviour

Answer 9

Cold weather: drop the number of cows in estrus, increases onset of reproductive activity in sheep

Warm weather: decreases sexual libido in bulls and boars

Question 10

How does the environment act as a timer

Answer 10

Or zeitgeber
Inherent rhythm develops, can synchronize events (e.g. estrus)

Question 11

How does sexual behaviour vary daily? E.g.?

Answer 11

Occur at particular periods of the 24h day
e.g. sheep mate most around sunrise and sunset, beh estrus onset occurs at sunrise, rams circulate

Question 12

What is crepuscular

Answer 12

Animals most active at dusk and dawn (sunrise and sunset)

Question 13

The three important characteristics for the likelihood of successful mating behaviour in females

Answer 13

1. Attractiveness: extent to which sexual response is evoked (pheromones, visual cues)
2. Proceptivity: extent of invitation behaviour (female seeks out male)
3. Receptivity: willingness to accept courtship and copulatory attempts (e.g. lordosis)

Question 14

What females are known for proceptivity

Answer 14

Ewes

Question 15

What is estrus

Answer 15

Heat, state during which the female seeks and accepts the male, part of estrous cycle

Question 16

Estrus increases/decreases what behs

Answer 16

Increase in locomotion, investigative, vocalizations, decrease in eating and resting (restless)

Question 17

What animals tend to have “silent” first estruses

Answer 17

Ewes, cows, mares

Question 18

Estrus behaviour in sheep

Answer 18

Silent heats common, need a ram to detect
Very proceptive, seek out male, rub herself against him, shake her tail towards him

Question 19

Estrus behaviour in goats

Answer 19

Rapid tail waving (“flagging”), repeated bleating, decreased eating, tendency to roam

Question 20

Estrus behaviour in cattle

Answer 20

Lasts 12-24h
Restlessness (increased activity), raise and switch tail, arch/stretch back, increased licking, jerky movements of vulva, roaming and bellowing
Mutual riding

Question 21

Who is typically involved in mutual riding

Answer 21

When female-female, cow in estrus will stand to be ridden, cows just entering into or exiting estrus may attempt to mount

Question 22

Estrus behaviour in horses

Answer 22

Urination stance or straddling with small amounts of urine
Tail elevated, rhythmic clitoral “winking”
Seek out male, adopt stationary stance

Question 23

Estrus behaviour pigs

Answer 23

Adopt lordosis stance in response to pressure on the lumbar region of the back
May be ridden by other sows

Question 24

Presence of a male synchronizes estrus in group of females

Answer 24

“Whitten” effect

Question 25

What is male libido

Answer 25

sexual performance

Question 26

How do we measure male performance

Answer 26

Serving capacity test
- number of ejaculations in exhaustion test
- reaction time (delay before ejaculation)
- proportions of failures to mount
- proportion of failures to ejaculate

Question 27

What might impact libido

Answer 27

Lower libido when introduced to new group, physical changes (older), obesity, pain, discomfort during mounting

Question 28

Describe male courtship in ungulates

Answer 28

Female-seeking, nudging and tending (close bodily contact, rest chin on hindquarters)
Nose female perineum, flehmen, pawing with forelimb, bleating, butting hindquarters
Mounting intention movements

Question 29

What is the flehmen response in males

Answer 29

Animal fully extends the head and neck, contracts the nares and raises the upper lip while taking shallow breaths
Usually occurs after smelling urine and nosing the female perineum

Question 30

Two types of male mating behaviour

Answer 30

Clasping and treading

Question 31

What hormone is released before and after mating

Answer 31

Oxytocin (bonding hormone)

Question 32

How do pigs display treading

Answer 32

Boar is far enough on sow (who is in lordosis stance) and moves his legs